Koinōnia

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42 ESV)

Most of the churches I attended in my life had something called “fellowship” and some even had space dedicated to it called “fellowship hall” or something similar. We had time after “church” that was called “fellowship time” that always seemed to be a relaxed time of visiting together and just being friendly with each other outside of normal “church stuff.” In the New Testament the word that is translated as “fellowship” as in Acts 2:42 (above) is κοινωνια or koinōnia, which Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest defined as, “joint participation in a common interest or activity.” Instead of simply a friendly time of visiting together or a coming together for relaxation, κοινωνια, then, is a partnership, a sharing of something in common.

Here is my personal translation, “They were but remaining constant the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship the breaking of the bread and the prayers.”

In this verse we have the fourfold activity of the church. The believers continued steadfastly in the teaching or doctrine of the apostles and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. It should be clear that these believers were not divided in any way. They had a single-mindedness to stand firm in what the apostles were teaching them and in doing that they partnered together to do so. In this they broke bread together and, of course, prayed together. There was a close communion with each other. This partnering together, this fellowship is second only to the foundational element of doctrine and teaching. It is crucial that Christians fellowship with one another.

True Christian fellowship is far deeper than simple socializing together. It involves a true union and bond in thought and desire, and goal. Carefully read the following passage.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5 ESV)

What was making Paul joyful? It was the Philippians partnership with him in the Gospel. However, greatest of all is our fellowship with our Lord Jesus Himself as Paul says in Philippians 3:10, “…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…”

On the other hand, there is a flip side to κοινωνια that we must consider. There are some with whom we should never have fellowship.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 ESV)

Paul used four different graphic words in this passage to describe a relationship. We have already looked at κοινωνια, which is translated here as fellowship. The word the ESV translated as partnership in v14 is μετοχη or metochē. It means “sharing or participation.” In v15 of the ESV we have the word accord, which is the Greek word συμφωνησις or sumphonēsis from which we get our English word symphony. It means “unison and agreement.” Also in v15 we have the word portion, which is the Greek word μερις or meris, which means “a share or portion of something.” Finally, in v16 in the ESV we have the word agreement, which is the Greek word συγκαταθεσις or sugkatathesis, which is an accord or a consensus.

Paul’s questions using these words were rhetorical. Of course there can be no question of the importance of the Christian’s separation from the world. Paul’s word usage here was brilliant. He heaped them on upon another so there will be no misunderstanding about the believer’s forging too close a bond with non-Christians.

Think of marriage, business partnerships, dating, friendships, club memberships, et cetera. The next one may cause some discussion, but also think of those secret lodges or organizations like the Masons. They are not Christian. Even a brief examination of their literature reveals that. Therefore, we must be wise and not have any close relationships with these groups or people. It is God who has made these distinctions. Why? He wants the Body of Christ to be pure, to “be separate” and “touch not the unclean thing.” He does not want us to be defiled by evil or by fellowship with those who do evil. Think on this my brethren, when believers do fellowship with evil, they break fellowship and communion with God. He can only “receive us” when we are separate from this world.

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3 thoughts on “Koinōnia”

Very good.
So many times in my own life I have been sorely berated for my stand of separation.
There are places that we all have to go, people we have to see on a regular basis; I am speaking of work, school, etc., and even family gatherings. But, these are NOT places of fellowship for me, it is very empty and shallow. The only true fellowship that I have is with the true saints of God and centered around the truth of the Word. Sometimes these people (family and saints) are the same people, but most times they are not.
I have been told that I “exclude” people. I have not consciously or verbally done this, but I believe it is my own Biblical lifestyle and what that includes that makes people say this. Because I do not just “accept” or “tolerate” certain things, then I am accused of being exclusive. Well, this is the only place of true peace and victory for me.
True fellowship around Jesus and His Word is such a sweet, precious gift. Not that we cannot talk about happenings in the world, the weather, and other more surface issues, but we always get back to Jesus, always!
I never feel empty afterward, I think that is the difference. Praise God for the saints!

Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. (Colossians 1:24-26 ESV)

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The way of escape

"To believe that He will preserve us is, indeed, a means of preservation. God will certainly preserve us, and make a way of escape for us out of the temptation, should we fall. We are to pray for what God has already promised. Our requests are to be regulated by His promises and commands. Faith embraces the promises and so finds relief." - John Owen

How to be free from bondage to our flesh and temptation

"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: 'God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.' When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage." - John Owen

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About me

My name is Mike Ratliff. I am a δοῦλος (slave) of the Κύριον ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν (Lord Jesus Christ.) I have been a Bible teacher since the late 1980's. I am currently learning Koine Greek, which I began in 1992 and will continue to do so until the Lord takes me home. I am Reformed in my theology because I recognize that God is Sovereign over all things. I write these posts as God directs. I am also part of the discernment team at Christian Research Network.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT

by G. D. Watson

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.